Wheat harvest film screens at Ritz Theatre

With the 2014 wheat-growing season well underway, Washington state moviegoers are getting their first theatrical-look at the Great American Wheat Harvest documentary film.

The film will make its Washington state debut at the Ritz Theatre June 12-14 at 8 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m., for a special event with independent filmmaker Conrad Weaver of ConjoStudios, LLC.

The Washington Grain Commission is one of the documentary film’s new executive sponsors.

Weaver says WGC’s support for the film will help bring awareness to the Pacific Northwest of wheat growers’ importance to the region.

The distinctiveness of farming areas with its peculiar and picturesque hills and slope provides a counterpoint to the relatively flat land of the Midwest and Northern Tier states.

“The Palouse provides some of the most breathtaking backdrops for filming,” Weaver said, adding the area produces more wheat per acre than anywhere in the U.S. “We applaud the commission’s decision to help bring a deeper understanding about the nutritional and health benefits of our nation’s wheat crop.”

Wheat and barley are grown in 31 out of 39 counties in Washington according to the 2007 USDA Census. Wheat is the second highest valued agriculture commodity in the state. Washington’s Whitman County produces more wheat than any other county in the U.S.

Steve Claassen, chairman of the WGC, applauded Weaver’s two-year effort to bring the beauty, energy and complexity of the annual wheat harvest to the public’s attention.

“Wheat harvest is a complex time of the year with many moving parts and yet it is largely hidden from public view. You have to have vision and determination to bring it to life. The WGC felt Weaver’s effort to shine a light on this largely overlooked, but incredibly important part of America’s agriculture was worth our contribution.”

The WGC now joins the Nebraska Wheat Board, North Dakota Wheat Commission, Oklahoma Wheat Commission and the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee as major state wheat sponsors. Other Great American Wheat Harvest major production sponsors include: John Deere; U.S. Custom Harvesters Inc .; C& B Operations; MacDon Industries; Case IH; Association of Canadian Custom Harvesters; TMCO/National Manufacturing; and media partner, AgWired, an online media service at http://agwired.com.

The film had its national premiere in Washington, D.C., on March 25, National Ag Day, and continues to show in theaters across the country and now in Washington state.

The screening schedule, information about the film and preorders for the film are available at http://www.GreatAmericanWheatHarvest.com. Preorders will be shipped in early November and will contain extra footage not seen in the movie.

For more information, contact Jody L. Lamp, GAWH National Executive Co-Coordinator, call 406-698-9675 or by email at

wheatharvest.com”>jody@greatamericanjody@greatamerican

wheatharvest.com.